News Article

Speed Pedelec Type Approval Changed per January 1, 2018

BRUSSELS, Belgium – On January 1, 2018, the ‘old’ type approval for speed pedelecs expired. This results in the fact that EU Directive 2002/24 no longer applies. With the start of the New Year speed pedelecs must comply to the type approval based on the EU 168/2013 regulations. It raises the question of how to deal with unsold inventory of speed pedelecs that have the 2002/24 type approval.

In The Netherlands various consumer forums showed uncertainty among owners of speed pedelecs about this change in the type approval regulations. Owners fear that their speed pedelec no longer meets the rules and due to that are no longer insured. Bike Europe’s sister magazine ‘Tweewieler’ asked Eugène Moerkerk from the Dutch RAI industry association about the specifics of the changes.

Mirror and reflectors

He said “Speed pedelecs are registered as mopeds. For speed pedelecs that already have a license plate and of which the owner is registered nothing will change. However, these speed pedelecs must still meet the permanent requirements in the Vehicles Regulation when used on public roads. This means, for example, that the speed pedelecs must be fitted with a left-hand exterior mirror (Article 5.6.45) and a retro-reflector on each side (Article 5.6.51). ”

Horn and brake light

According to Moerkerk new speed pedelecs that do not have a license plate and are not yet registered the new rules mean an important change “The speed pedelecs must, at first admission i.e. the first registration, either have a European type approval or an individual admission. Until last December 31 this meant one of either European 2002/24 or 168/2013 type approval. From January 1st, 2018, this must be the type approval based on the European (framework) regulation (EU) 168/2013. This means, for example, that new speed pedelecs must be fitted with an approved type of horn and a brake light that lights up as soon as you start braking.”

For more on this see the downloadable “Guidelines for Speed Pedelecs Parts” PDF at the bottom of this page.

Regulation (EU) 168/2013 on sticker

The regulation changes also mean that distributors and dealers should check whether their inventory of new and unsold speed pedelecs have and comply to the European 168/2013 type approval. “This is stated on a construction sticker on the speed pedelec as well as in the CoC (Certificate of Conformity) supplied by the manufacturer/importer,” explains Moerkerk.

Remaining Stock Scheme

For speed pedelecs produced up to December 31, 2017 the old Directive 2002/24/EC still complied. This results in the fact that it is highly possible that there are still unsold speed pedelecs left in various EU member states that are unregistered with a 2002/24 type approval.

How to deal with this inventory is up to national authorities. In The Netherlands for instance a “Remaining Stock Scheme” has been set up. It’s unknown how other countries and their vehicle registration authorities are handling such unsold inventory of speed pedelecs with the 2002/24 type approval. It’s likely that manufacturers, importers or distributors have more information on such “Remaining Stock Schemes”.